John Feminella
@jxf.me
🥰: bits, bots, bucks, blocks
⏪: Two Sigma, EY, HHCS, Thoughtworks, Pivotal, Forge.
👤: Thing builder, conf speaker, curiosity advocate, dad.
⏪: Two Sigma, EY, HHCS, Thoughtworks, Pivotal, Forge.
👤: Thing builder, conf speaker, curiosity advocate, dad.
Pinned
John Feminella
@jxf.me
· Jun 26
[Client → Server] PSH, ACK
│ Payload (17 bytes): 0xF0 0x9F 0x91 0x8B 0x20 0x48 0x69 0x2C 0x20 0x42 0x6C 0x75 0x65 0x73 0x6B 0x79 0x2E
👋 Hi, Bluesky.
│ Payload (17 bytes): 0xF0 0x9F 0x91 0x8B 0x20 0x48 0x69 0x2C 0x20 0x42 0x6C 0x75 0x65 0x73 0x6B 0x79 0x2E
👋 Hi, Bluesky.
I sincerely hope Filippo's right, but I'm not sure I'd take the bet that we will get great code reading tools.
Perhaps this is too cynical, but I think the VC class sees the value of reading/understanding code plummeting to zero for many everyday use cases.
Perhaps this is too cynical, but I think the VC class sees the value of reading/understanding code plummeting to zero for many everyday use cases.
I've always wanted better tools to read and navigate—not edit!—source code.
For example, it's incredible to me that there is no iPad app that does LSP features plus bookmarks, navigation tree, etc.
Maybe now that LLMs made it more people's job to read code, we'll get good code reading tools?
For example, it's incredible to me that there is no iPad app that does LSP features plus bookmarks, navigation tree, etc.
Maybe now that LLMs made it more people's job to read code, we'll get good code reading tools?
February 8, 2026 at 5:09 PM
I sincerely hope Filippo's right, but I'm not sure I'd take the bet that we will get great code reading tools.
Perhaps this is too cynical, but I think the VC class sees the value of reading/understanding code plummeting to zero for many everyday use cases.
Perhaps this is too cynical, but I think the VC class sees the value of reading/understanding code plummeting to zero for many everyday use cases.
The only way to stop a bad guy with a One Ring is with a good guy with a One Ring.
February 3, 2026 at 12:33 PM
The only way to stop a bad guy with a One Ring is with a good guy with a One Ring.
The Charlottesville ice rink is back! (Perhaps unintentionally.) #CvilleSky
February 1, 2026 at 6:43 PM
The Charlottesville ice rink is back! (Perhaps unintentionally.) #CvilleSky
Love how all the Grimm's fairy tales are like "murder is bad and evil, m'kay? *UNLESS* it's a godless heathen witch, then hell yeah, light 'em up in the most excruciating way possible".
![An excerpt from Handel and Gretel. A highlighted portion reads, "Then Gretel gave her a push that drove her far into [the oven], and shut the iron door, and fastened the bolt. Oh! then she began to howl quite horribly, but Gretel ran away, and the godless witch was miserably burnt to death."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2vs3i4udcqmyngaqvtpj5ktl/bafkreicpmcjafdewu4wjrjq7eftjv3at5ki4nbjb33d4audfzxzmimfraa@jpeg)
January 31, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Love how all the Grimm's fairy tales are like "murder is bad and evil, m'kay? *UNLESS* it's a godless heathen witch, then hell yeah, light 'em up in the most excruciating way possible".
Judging from the number of people out driving this morning with uncleared roofs, an unsuspecting pedestrian somewhere is going to get decapitated, Final-Destination-style, when one of these bozos flies around a corner and all that snow slides off in the form of a single 500-pound slab.
January 27, 2026 at 11:43 AM
Judging from the number of people out driving this morning with uncleared roofs, an unsuspecting pedestrian somewhere is going to get decapitated, Final-Destination-style, when one of these bozos flies around a corner and all that snow slides off in the form of a single 500-pound slab.
Don't forget to squat while shoveling snow, @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social! Your back will thank you later.
A+ for effort but C- for form.
A+ for effort but C- for form.
January 26, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Don't forget to squat while shoveling snow, @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social! Your back will thank you later.
A+ for effort but C- for form.
A+ for effort but C- for form.
I've shoveled more sidewalks on our block in the last 24 hours than I have in the last two years, and gone through two of my five-gallon salt buckets. Definitely going to need to restock after this week!
January 26, 2026 at 3:15 AM
I've shoveled more sidewalks on our block in the last 24 hours than I have in the last two years, and gone through two of my five-gallon salt buckets. Definitely going to need to restock after this week!
Finished the second snow-shoveling of the day. Liberal use of sand and carbonyldiamide-glycol ice melt after the first shoveling made the second one way, way easier, and it's doing a good job of keeping the sidewalk clear.
If I'm lucky the third shoveling will be minimal. Fingers crossed.
If I'm lucky the third shoveling will be minimal. Fingers crossed.
January 25, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Finished the second snow-shoveling of the day. Liberal use of sand and carbonyldiamide-glycol ice melt after the first shoveling made the second one way, way easier, and it's doing a good job of keeping the sidewalk clear.
If I'm lucky the third shoveling will be minimal. Fingers crossed.
If I'm lucky the third shoveling will be minimal. Fingers crossed.
It's the worst weekend to send a supply run to friends and workers in MN, but when's the last time neighbors let a little weather get in the way of fighting for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
January 25, 2026 at 3:09 PM
It's the worst weekend to send a supply run to friends and workers in MN, but when's the last time neighbors let a little weather get in the way of fighting for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
✈️ It's looking pretty grim that my travel plans to NYC will work out next week, but if you will be around and want to catch up about nerd things, please let me know and I'd love to grab a snowy coffee/hot chocolate somewhere.
January 23, 2026 at 3:10 PM
✈️ It's looking pretty grim that my travel plans to NYC will work out next week, but if you will be around and want to catch up about nerd things, please let me know and I'd love to grab a snowy coffee/hot chocolate somewhere.
Philosophers on the Trolley Problem: It's a nuanced thought experiment that allows for a careful examination of moral priorities and tradeoffs.
Average eight-year-old on the Trolley Problem:
Average eight-year-old on the Trolley Problem:
January 23, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Philosophers on the Trolley Problem: It's a nuanced thought experiment that allows for a careful examination of moral priorities and tradeoffs.
Average eight-year-old on the Trolley Problem:
Average eight-year-old on the Trolley Problem:
Deeply frustrating that Claude Code won't let you make "deny everything but X" rules.
(Deny-rules take precedence over allow-rules, so "deny: *; allow: X" just bans everything which is usually not what you intended.)
(Deny-rules take precedence over allow-rules, so "deny: *; allow: X" just bans everything which is usually not what you intended.)
January 22, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Deeply frustrating that Claude Code won't let you make "deny everything but X" rules.
(Deny-rules take precedence over allow-rules, so "deny: *; allow: X" just bans everything which is usually not what you intended.)
(Deny-rules take precedence over allow-rules, so "deny: *; allow: X" just bans everything which is usually not what you intended.)
Screen time during formative childhood development years will turn out to be the lead paint of the 2010s.
January 21, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Screen time during formative childhood development years will turn out to be the lead paint of the 2010s.
In light of the Machado-Trump Nobel Peace Prize scandal, some observers are questioning whether I received my "#1 Dad" mug under less than transparent circumstances. Let me hasten to reassure the American public that I am, in fact, a #1 Dad.
January 18, 2026 at 6:00 PM
In light of the Machado-Trump Nobel Peace Prize scandal, some observers are questioning whether I received my "#1 Dad" mug under less than transparent circumstances. Let me hasten to reassure the American public that I am, in fact, a #1 Dad.
Maria Dahvana Headley's Beowulf has the best opening of any Beowulf I've read:
January 16, 2026 at 1:19 AM
Maria Dahvana Headley's Beowulf has the best opening of any Beowulf I've read:
The kiddos and I have been working on a 1,000-piece puzzle this week after school, which we just finished today. Progress pics:
January 15, 2026 at 10:32 PM
The kiddos and I have been working on a 1,000-piece puzzle this week after school, which we just finished today. Progress pics:
A fun fact about U.S. securities law on futures is that you can make futures contracts on almost anything you want, **except** for two very specific things:
(1) movie box office receipts 🎬, and...
(2) onions 🧅
This is not a joke. That's really what the law says:
(1) movie box office receipts 🎬, and...
(2) onions 🧅
This is not a joke. That's really what the law says:
January 15, 2026 at 2:05 AM
A fun fact about U.S. securities law on futures is that you can make futures contracts on almost anything you want, **except** for two very specific things:
(1) movie box office receipts 🎬, and...
(2) onions 🧅
This is not a joke. That's really what the law says:
(1) movie box office receipts 🎬, and...
(2) onions 🧅
This is not a joke. That's really what the law says:
People feel way too comfortable having text conversations on a plane with their phones set to ultra large font size and maximum brightness.
January 14, 2026 at 2:54 PM
People feel way too comfortable having text conversations on a plane with their phones set to ultra large font size and maximum brightness.
You do have to be better to stand out than before, but you definitely don't need money to stand out.
For example, two of the most successful games this year were from comparatively tiny studios, Team Cherry (Silksong) and Sandfall Interactive (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33).
For example, two of the most successful games this year were from comparatively tiny studios, Team Cherry (Silksong) and Sandfall Interactive (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33).
By games engines being commoditized: there are so many more games being built! And so it's harder to stand out unless you have differentiators (loyal fans, massive $$ for marketing, other clever stuff)
AI will result in so much more software that is average (or below) also!
AI will result in so much more software that is average (or below) also!
January 12, 2026 at 10:44 AM
You do have to be better to stand out than before, but you definitely don't need money to stand out.
For example, two of the most successful games this year were from comparatively tiny studios, Team Cherry (Silksong) and Sandfall Interactive (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33).
For example, two of the most successful games this year were from comparatively tiny studios, Team Cherry (Silksong) and Sandfall Interactive (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33).
Press the Turbo button to make things run slower.
Without revealing your actual age,what's something you remember that if you told a younger person they wouldn't understand?
January 10, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Press the Turbo button to make things run slower.
This is why you'll never in a million years see OpenAI indemnify a professional-services use of ChatGPT. When the stakes are high (and many times when they're not) you want the humans doing the work.
Update: ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity were all wrong in their interpretation
There is plenty of value to go to a legal professional - heck, to work with a professional in any area that is high stakes! AI sounds smart but it can (+ does) get lots wrong while sounding confident
There is plenty of value to go to a legal professional - heck, to work with a professional in any area that is high stakes! AI sounds smart but it can (+ does) get lots wrong while sounding confident
I’m asking for legal advice for a complicated situation.
Feels like I’m waiting weeks (while a partner reviews the case) and paying a large sum to confirm what Claude and ChatGPT analysed + on the situation and articles is correct, and get it in writing + stamped
Feels like I’m waiting weeks (while a partner reviews the case) and paying a large sum to confirm what Claude and ChatGPT analysed + on the situation and articles is correct, and get it in writing + stamped
January 8, 2026 at 11:29 AM
This is why you'll never in a million years see OpenAI indemnify a professional-services use of ChatGPT. When the stakes are high (and many times when they're not) you want the humans doing the work.
No, Slack, I absolutely do not want to "send my coworkers greeting cards just like this one". Nor, I think, do they want to receive them.
January 5, 2026 at 7:52 PM
No, Slack, I absolutely do not want to "send my coworkers greeting cards just like this one". Nor, I think, do they want to receive them.
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."
— President and General Dwight Eisenhower
— President and General Dwight Eisenhower
January 3, 2026 at 11:46 AM
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."
— President and General Dwight Eisenhower
— President and General Dwight Eisenhower
Saddened to hear about this. I only met Mike once, years and years ago, but he was as funny in person as he was online. He brought me a lot of joy and his material was consistently hilarious.
Very sad to say it seems Mike Fossey, aka Mike F. has died. Truly one of the funniest posters of all time and a talented artisan. Had been friends online for many years, but I got to hang out a couple times at shows in Boston and he was funny and sweet in real life too.
Michael F. Fossey Obituary December 22, 2025 - Westford Healy Funeral Home
View Michael F. Fossey's obituary, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.
www.healyfuneralhome.com
December 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Saddened to hear about this. I only met Mike once, years and years ago, but he was as funny in person as he was online. He brought me a lot of joy and his material was consistently hilarious.